(Gray News) – Watches were issued for portions of Florida as a disturbance dubbed Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday.
Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect this storm will make landfall Thursday on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a major hurricane, with strong wind, heavy rain and storm surge, as well as the possibility of tornadoes.
The storm is currently about 120 miles west-southwest of Grand Cayman, moving northwest at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
As of the 5 a.m. Tuesday advisory, the National Hurricane Center issued new advisories:
- A storm surge watch has been issued from Indian Pass, Florida, southward to Bonita Beach, Florida, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
- A hurricane watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood northward and westward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.
- A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Indian Pass to the Walton/Bay County line and from north of Bonita Beach to south of Englewood.
Earlier, a tropical storm warning had been issued for Grand Cayman; Rio Lagartos to Tulum, Mexico; and the Cuban provinces of Artemisa, and Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth.A tropical storm watch is also in effect for Dry Tortugas and Lower Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge.
The cyclone is expected to gradually turn northward on Wednesday and northward to north-northeastward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico to the northeastern Gulf Coast through Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.
The current trajectory brings the storm, which will be named Helene, on shore at around the Big Bend area of Florida, though it is still too early to tell precisely where the storm will make landfall.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 41 counties Monday ahead of the expected hurricane, the Associated Press reported.
People along the Florida coast in the area under these advisories should get prepared, experts said.
The National Weather Service has tips on what to do before a hurricane, including how to know your zone and what to include in your family’s emergency kit.
Impacts are also expected to be felt well inland.
Heavy rainfall will possibly produce isolated flash and urban floodingacross the Southeast, Southern Appalachians and theTennessee Valley Wednesday through Friday, the advisory stated.
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